Based on your responses, we've outlined your personalized situation and recommended next steps below!
Just arriving to our site? Answer a few questions to get guidance tailored to your unique circumstances. Get Started →
What these denials mean:
To get service-connected for your mental disorder, you need evidence showing that your disability began or worsened - either during your active duty or because of another established service-connected disability.
This denial confirms that you have a mental disorder. Your claim was denied because there wasn't evidence of a nexus, or connection, between your mental disorder and your service.
Understanding mental disorder classifications for VA claims:
The VA classifies mental disorders into three different types, though all service-connected mental disorders receive one combined rating:
- Eating Disorders (with its own DBQ and measurement criteria)
- PTSD (with its own specific DBQ)
- Other Mental Disorders
For non-PTSD diagnoses, there needs to be evidence of that mental disorder somewhere in your military records. Clear examples might be service treatment records noting "depressed mood," while less obvious evidence could include notes about attitude changes, sleep difficulties, or weight changes.
Possible scenarios:
- Evidence exists but wasn't identified: Relevant evidence may be in your records but wasn't obvious enough to stand out. A thorough records review could uncover this evidence.
- No evidence in military records: In this case, we would need buddy statements from friends, family, or fellow Service Members providing first-hand accounts of symptoms they observed during your active duty.
- Undiagnosed PTSD: This happens frequently. PTSD has different evidence standards depending on the type of traumatic stressor, with special considerations for combat, hostile/terrorist events, and Military Sexual Trauma (MST).
You can still get service-connection if:
I can provide evidence of a nexus that was previously missed (which may or may not be for your currently diagnosed mental disorder).
How?
- Records Review - I would thoroughly examine your records to find evidence that may have been overlooked.
- Nexus Letter - If evidence exists, I can write a nexus letter supporting your claim.
- Independent Medical Examination (IME) - We might need to conduct an IME to assess for PTSD if that appears to be a possibility. If you have a PTSD diagnosis, the might open the possibility for a positive nexus letter.
Standard VA Disability Claim Process
The VA will provide:
- Free medical examination
- Free records review
Your Fieldstone Service Plan:
Estimated Total Cost:
$1,400 - $2,500
Phase 1a: $350 (due at booking)
- Records Review: $350
- Forensic analysis of up to 50 pages* of records.
If after completing your Records Review, it is determined that a positive opinion can be offered in a Nexus Letter, you can choose to move on to Phase 2.
OR
If after completing your Records Review, it is determined that a positive opinion cannot be offered in a Nexus Letter, but that your symptoms might be consistent with a PTSD diagnosis:
- If your symptoms are more consistent with a PTSD diagnosis that could be connected to your service, we could complete an IME for an additional $1100 fee. Nexus Letters for PTSD have a different set of requirements than other Mental Disorders.
Phase 1b: $1100 (billed only if chosen)
- IME: $1100
- 1-hour telehealth examination
If after completing IME, it is determined that you don't have a PTSD diagnosis, this will conclude the process. If it is determined that you have a PTSD diagnosis, you can choose to move forward with Phase 2. *This might also require submission of additional records and an additional Records Review, if necessary to fully support a nexus.
Phase 2: $1050 (billed only after Phase 1)
- Nexus Letter: $1,050
- A formal independent medical opinion (IMO) supporting a direct service connection.
Timeline:
Phase 1a
- Sign-up & Pay: Secure Phase One of your plan and access intake packet.
- Intake & Upload: Complete intake forms and upload medical/service records.
- Confirmation & Analysis: After you confirmed a complete record submission, you will be informed within 2 weeks if there is enough evidence to provide a positive IMO or if symptoms might be consistent with PTSD. If there isn't enough evidence to support a positive IMO either way, the process concludes here. Otherwise, you can choose to move on to the next appropriate phase.
Phase 1b
- Pay: Secure Phase 1b of your plan.
- Assessment: You will complete clinical assessments.
- Scheduling: Upon completing assessments, you will schedule your telehealth exam.
- Deliverables: You will receive your Completed Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) via secure email message within 1 week of your exam. If a PTSD diagnosis has been made, you will be informed if there are additional required documents to make a positive opinion. If there is not a PTSD diagnosis, the process concludes here.
Phase 2
- Pay: Secure final Phase of your plan
- Lock-in Delivery Date: Upon paying, you will be redirected to a scheduling calendar where you will "lock in" the date by which your IMO will be emailed to you.
- Deliverables: You will receive IMO by secure email by End of Business on the date you reserved.
*Files exceeding 50 pages will incur a fee of $100 per 50-page increment.
Ready to book your service?
We're ready to help! Sign up for your Fieldstone Service Plan below.
Available remotely in PSYPACT participating states: AL, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, ME, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WV, WI, WY. View Map →
